By Sean Cronin
Fitri Hay's Royal Scotsman (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}–Enrol {GB}, by Pivotal {GB}) finished a close up third in Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry S. and justified odds-on favouritism with a snug victory over the same six-furlong trip in Thursday's G2 Richmond S. at Goodwood. Fourth behind the 'TDN Rising Star' display of Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}) contesting a hot novice heat over five furlongs at Ascot in his May 7 debut, he graduated by five lengths over this course and distance 13 days later before his black-type debut in the Coventry last time. The 5-6 pick was well away to stalk the leaders in a handy fourth and raced under a firm grip through halfway. Shaken up passing the quarter-mile marker, he quickened for control approaching the final furlong and was ridden out in the closing stages to easily hold the Windsor maiden winner Al Karrar (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) by 1 1/2 lengths in a new track-record time. Isa Salman Al Khalifa's Listed Rose Bowl S. winner Chateau (Ire) (Havana Gold {Ire}) ran on well to finish 1 1/2 lengths further adrift in third.
“Royal Scotsman likes a bit of cover and switches off well,” commented trainer Paul Cole. “Our main worry was just getting some cover, but nothing could have gone better today and it all went exactly as we'd hoped it would go. Nothing worries him and he is a fantastic horse. There is the possibility of stepping up in trip, but he has a lot of speed and is out of a fast mare. I can't see anything around that has as much speed as him. There are very good races on the horizon such as the [G1 Prix] Morny and potentially York. I'm not good at making quick decisions. I've had two or three other great horses, but leading up to this race he gave me a better vibe. You're never certain, as anything can happen, but everything went well and I couldn't comprehend being beaten. If you're looking at the [G1] 2000 Guineas, good horses can win over a lot of trips and the way he behaves is very good. Whether he gets a mile or not I don't know, but he is bred for it.”
Winning rider Jim Crowley, remaining on a high plateau after the G1 Sussex S. success of Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), added, “Royal Scotsman had the best form in the book, his Coventry form has worked out well and he was unlucky that day as I was drawn one and got a bump. He still travelled very strongly today, he would be even better with a bit of cut in the ground, and it was a nice performance. If the gap had shut, I would have kicked myself for not going. He was always going nicely and, once we got inside the final two furlongs, it was all over really. He has a lot of speed and could be a horse for the [G1] Prix Morny. He is physically strong and has lots of speed. The more he learns to relax, he will be able to go further.”
Jim Hay, husband of owner Fitri Hay, continued, “That was thrilling and it's why we do it. Paul and Oliver [Cole] were as confident as you can be coming into Goodwood. This is a very tricky track and there are no shoo-ins. We love coming to Goodwood and had a lot of success here. Win, lose or draw here, you have a fantastic day. Royal Scotsman is a serious horse.”
“I am thrilled with his run on only his second start,” Tom Clover said of Al Karrar's second-place finish. “Experience has just caught him out there, as he was on and off the bridle the whole way. He hit the line really strong and galloped out. He has done everything bar win. He is a lovely horse with a lovely future. I think we have done the right thing coming here and to be second in a Richmond is pretty good. What is lovely for us is that he should improve for the experience. We have him in the [G2] Champagne S. [at Doncaster] and, whether we will go six furlongs or seven furlongs next time, I don't know. If we get a smooth run through the autumn, he is a lovely horse for next year.”
Jake Warren, advisor to Chateau's owner Isa Salman Al Khalifa, said, “He has run very well considering the tight turnaround from Newbury. He was a bit unlucky in running, he got caught on the rail and nearly had to start his race again at the halfway point. He has finished off really well. He is a lovely horse and we will try and find a nice race for him. We will look at the [G2] Gimcrack [at York] and the 2-year-old Pattern as it unfolds. Havana Golds tend to be sharp horses, he is a nice big-framed animal and one would have to think that it could be possible [to go up in trip] in time. We will see.”
Royal Scotsman is the latest of five live foals out of the dual stakes-placed Enrol (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), herself kin to Listed Golden Rose S. and Listed Boadicea Fillies' S. placegetter Enact (GB) (Kyllachy {GB). The April-foaled bay's Graded stakes-placed third dam Appointed One (Danzig) is kin to seven black-type performers headed by her multiple Group-winning full-brother Emperor Jones and G1 William Hill Futurity victor and dual Classic-placed British champion Bakharoff (The Minstrel).
Thursday, Goodwood, Britain
RICHMOND S.-G2, £150,000, Goodwood, 7-28, 2yo, c/g, 6fT, 1:09.66, g/f.
1–ROYAL SCOTSMAN (GB), 128, c, 2, by Gleneagles (Ire)
1st Dam: Enrol (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Constitute, by Gone West
3rd Dam: Appointed One, by Danzig
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (125,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Mrs Fitri Hay; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Paul & Oliver Cole; J-Jim Crowley. £85,065. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, $132,428. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Al Karrar (Ire), 128, c, 2, Dark Angel (Ire)–Moghamarah (GB), by Dawn Approach (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€180,000 Ylg '21 GOAUTY). O-Raed El Youssef; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-Tom Clover. £32,250.
3–Chateau (Ire), 128, c, 2, Havana Gold (Ire)–Petit Trianon (GB), by Dansili (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€47,000 Ylg '21 ARQDOY; 90,000gns 2yo '22 TATBRE). O-Isa Salman Al Khalifa; B-Select Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £16,140.
Margins: 1HF, 1HF, NO. Odds: 0.83, 6.00, 3.00.
Also Ran: Crispy Cat (GB), Bluelight Bay (Ire), Swift Asset (Ire), Legend Of Xanadu (GB), Shine's Ambition (Ire). Scratched: Marshman (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
The last King of Scotland
A ready success for the classy Royal Scotsman who lands the G2 Richmond Stakes, retaining his unbeaten record at @Goodwood_Races for @whatcomberacing & @JimCrowley1978 @Goodwood_Races pic.twitter.com/4ZkS5aIuXR
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 28, 2022
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